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Clubs and Publications

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Our dynamic clubs provide extensive social growth opportunities and build a sense of school camaraderie.

Students work together to develop programs, bring in speakers, organize food drives, and more.

Run by students with the guidance of a faculty advisor, clubs meet during lunch, rather than after school, so everyone can participate. Some clubs are limited to upper school or middle school students, while others include every grade. Clubs give our students the chance to interact with peers who may not attend classes with them. Students can build robots, campaign for human rights, work on any of our six publications, participate in student government, and more. 

Club offerings vary from year to year based on student interest.

SELECT A CATEGORY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RECENT CLUB OFFERINGS

8th Grade Memory Book

8th Grade Memory Book

Each year, 8th grade students use club and elective time to put together a retrospective of their years in middle school. Students work together to gather memories of their time at Barrack so far as they prepare to move into upper school.

 

Annenberg Science Symposium

Annenberg
Science
Symposium

The Annenberg High School Science Symposium is a highly selective program designed to raise the level of scientific and medical discourse among high school students in the Delaware Valley. Composed of a subset of students from the 9th grade Honors Biology course, Barrack annually participates in on-site symposia at The Annenberg Medical Center at Lankenau Medical Center with a year-end presentation at Bryn Mawr Hospital. With the support of mentors, students delve into a current medical topic chosen by participants investigating technology and its bioethical considerations. Topics vary year to year.

Students engage in research, delve into ethical discussions, and are asked to create an artistic representation of the subject. Students may film a video, create a dramatic scene, or illustrate a graphic novel to make the facts and nuances of the medical advancement. Presentations are made to a panel of judges, physicians, and peer schools in the spring.

Many members of our STEAM Institute participate in the Annenberg Science Symposium.

Read more about our STEAM Institute here

 

Architectural Design Club

Architectural Design Club

Architectural Design Club focuses on learning and discussing elements of architectural history and design.

 

Athletics Teams

Athletic Teams

Over 75% of our students choose to participate in a Barrack sport at either the middle or upper school level. Sports offered include:

Cheerleading, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Indoor Track, Swimming, Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, and Track and Field

Learn more about our athletic program here

 

Chess Club

Chess Club

In Chess Club, students celebrate the sport of chess through games and technique study.

 

Citadel

Citadel

Citadel is Barrack's senior yearbook celebrating the year in review with a spotlight on the graduating class.

 

Coffeehouse Club

Coffeehouse Club

Student artists and musicians perform, hang out, and talk about music while working together on cover songs and original work.

 

Create Your Own Language Club

Create Your Own Language Club

This creative club aims to use linguistic theory to create a new language.

 

Creative Writing Club

Creative Writing Club

Students use club time to respond to prompts, compete in writing contests, and plan a monthly online magazine with student writing. Students are also encouraged to submit work to online publications.

 

DECA

DECA

DECA is an organization that helps students gain experience in the fields of marketing, finance, and business management. Students work together to prepare for local DECA competitions where they demonstrate their presentation, organization, and writing skills. Students successful at the local level can progress to regional and state competitions. DECA encourages students’ creativity and independence and is a great way for students to develop business savvy.

Many members of our Business and Entrepreneurship Institute participate in DECA.

Read more about our Business and Entrepreneurship Institute here

Derech Eretz Council

Derech Eretz Council

The Derech Eretz Council brings together student representatives who are elected by their classmates to raise awareness about the Derech Eretz/דרך ארץ pledge (our school’s honor code) and to consider high-level disciplinary issues. Members are committed to ethical awareness and to raising community spirit.

Read more about student leadership development here

 

Drama Club

Drama Club

As a supportive complement to our Drama Department, the Drama Club holds music workshops and cast bonding activities, helps with song selection and side readings, conducts information sessions with the director about upcoming shows, and helps fundraise and promote Drama Department events. The club also hosts a “musical of the month,” where members vote for their favorite musicals and then listen, watch, and discuss them.
Learn more about our drama program

 

Engineering Club

Engineering Club

Engineering Club is for all students in grades 9-12 who like to design and create things. Some past year’s projects students have worked on have been fuel rockets, bottle rockets, paper rockets, dragsters, solar powered cars, crash test cars, catapults, go carts, lip balms, Rube Goldberg devices, towers, bridges, gliders, pin hole cameras, and wind power turbines. Students can choose which types of projects they want to do based on their own personal experience and interest.

 

Environmental Action Club (EAC)

Environmental Action Club (EAC)

This student-centered organization protects, conserves, and improves the environment by taking action on local environmental issues. In addition to promoting energy conservation and effective recycling at Barrack, the EAC raises awareness about local, regional, and global environmental matters. Past activities have included flower sales, water bottle giveaways, and a trip to Harrisburg to visit different agencies.

 

Film Club

Film Club

Film Club students watch and discuss movies with one another with the goal of learning to appreciate and understand cinema.

 

Gateway

Gateway

Gateway is a literary and art magazine showcasing original student creative work, including poetry, photography, short stories, art, and reflective essays.

Read the latest edition of Gateway here

 

Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

GSA is a special space within Barrack where people can feel comfortable and accepted regardless of their sexuality, physical, mental, or intellectual ability, and level of religious observance. Barrack GSA educates our community, promotes tolerance and respect, and discourages bullying in any and all forms.

 

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is a nonprofit, national organization that works with different schools and thousands of girls.

It helps create a comfortable environment in which young women can learn and excel in the male-dominated field of computer programming. Using Girls Who Code curriculum and lessons, our chapter inspires and immerses girls into computer coding at an early age.

 

Hebrew Tutoring Center

Hebrew Tutoring Center

The Hebrew Tutoring Center is available to any student who needs or requests extra help or wants additional enrichment activities in Hebrew.

 

Hesed Club

Hesed Club

Hesed Club members develop and coordinate projects related to community service and hesed, the commitment to spreading general acts of loving kindness in our community. With complementary Hesed clubs for middle and upper schools, activities often include food, clothing, and fundraising drives; visits to nursing homes and soup kitchens; and educational programming on service-oriented organizations and social justice issues. The club is also heavily involved in planning Lag B'Omer activities each year as well as one major fundraising event. The club has previously hosted Strut to Support, a fashion show for Tikvah Children's Home; Chips for Charity, a casino night for Juvenile Diabetes Research; and Play to Plant, a game show night raising money for renewal efforts for the Carmel region in Israel.

 

Holocaust Education and Reflection Club (HEAR)

Holocaust Education and Reflection Club (HEAR)

The Holocaust Education and Reflection Club (HEAR) plans Yom Ha'Shoah/יום השואה (Holocaust Remembrance Day) and other all-school assemblies with survivors, liberators, film makers, historians, and the children and grandchildren of survivors to educate this generation about the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust. 

Learn more about HEAR Club here

 

ISRAEL CLUB/חוג ישראל

Israel Club/חוג ישראל

Just for our upper school students, this club promotes love of and advocacy for Israel by bringing greater awareness to our school community. Club members generate excitement about Israel and Israel-related activities, showcasing many opportunities to experience culture, music, food, holidays, and current events firsthand.

The Israel Club is heavily involved in planning and running our holiday celebrations and observances.

Read more about the Yoms here

Read more about our commitment to Israel here

 

Jewish Philosophy Club

Jewish Philosophy Club

This club creates a safe space for young Jewish philosophers to discuss their views and debate in a safe space.

 

L'shem Shamayim

L'shem Shamayim

L'shem Shamayim is a periodic opinion journal presenting the writing of Barrack students, alumni, and faculty and addresses the critical issues that face us as Americans and citizens of the world.

Read the latest edition of L'shem Shamayim here

 

Lucy Belle's Rainbow

Lucy Belle's Rainbow

Established in honor of a young girl who passed away from a brain tumor, this club collects art supplies in her memory to donate to Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania. The club promotes cancer awareness and spreads kindness and compassion to those in need.

 

Math Center

Math Center

Upper school tutors help students with math work.

 

Math Club

Math Club

In Math Club, students work individually or in groups on Pennsylvania Math League (PML) problems. These interesting problems prepare students for the PML contest and American Mathematics Competition. Students may also play math games and do logic puzzles or other math-related activities.

 

Math Counts

Math Counts

Students work individually or in groups honing their problem-solving abilities while taking on non-routine, contest-like problems. If there is enough interest, students may enter a competition for area schools.

 

Middle School Council (MSC)

Middle School Council (MSC)

Our Middle School Council (MSC) represents the unique needs and interests of our middle school students beyond their representation in the Student Association. The MSC deals with issues and fundraising solely for the middle school and organizes events such as dances, movie nights, and other activities that help make our middle school a vibrant community.

Read more about student leadership development here

 

Mini-THON

Mini-THON

Students work to fundraise for pediatric cancer through the Four Diamonds Foundation, culminating in a mini-THON event.

 

Mock Trial

Mock Trial

Pennsylvania high school students compete in district and regional levels of the Statewide Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. During the competition, eight-member student teams are given the opportunity to argue both sides of a case in an actual courtroom before a judge.

Students, who play the roles of lawyers, witnesses, plaintiffs, and defendants, are assisted by teachers and advising lawyers in preparing for competition. Lawyers and community leaders serve as jurors for the mock trials. Juries determine the winners in each trial based on the teams' abilities to prepare their cases, present arguments, and follow court rules. Students participating in Mock Trial gain a working knowledge of our justice system, presentation, critical thinking, teamwork skills, and dispute-resolution techniques.

Model UN

Model UN

Model UN helps students gain perspective on international relations in an engaging setting, practice debate and public speaking skills, and collaboratively understand current events. In Model UN, students around the world play roles as UN delegates from different countries and simulate policy discussions held at UN committees. Model UN club also participates in ILMUNC, a multi-day Model UN conference at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as additional single-day conferences. The club also hosts guest speakers, including current UN ambassadors.
Moot Beit Din

Moot Beit Din

Barrack students participate in the annual Moot Beit Din competition vying against more than twenty Jewish day schools from across the US and Canada. Students in the Moot Beit Din Club receive a hypothetical case that they research and rule on as a court on behalf of the "Moot Beit Din of B'nei Barrack.” Past cases have raised issues of whether teachers can form unions and strike for better pay, whether a person can be compelled to donate their bone marrow to save a dying stranger, and what a person can claim copyright protection for under Jewish law. Up to four students are selected to attend the competition where they present and defend Barrack’s decision before a panel of judges. The competition is held in a different city each year. The program is excellent preparation for law school Moot Court proceedings while infusing students' decision-making with Jewish values.
Outside the Bubble

Outside the Bubble

Students learn more about other groups of Americans to gain a better perspective of other races' experiences. Outside the Bubble encourages students to consider new perspectives through short stories, essays, books, photography, and documentary clips.

 

Science Fiction Book Club

Science Fiction Book Club

Students from all grades are welcome to bring their voices and interests to this club, which explores the science fiction genre through short stories and novels written by a diverse group of authors. Club members discuss both the literary merits of these works as well as the larger themes they present. The responsibility of picking the works discussed falls largely to the members of the club.

 

Sports Debate

Sports Debate

The Sports Debate Club discusses and debates sports and related topics. All members have equal opportunities to provide insight into their personal stances and respectfully disagree with other members. The club hosts guest speakers and special competitions throughout the year, including Super Bowl predictions, an NCAA March Madness Bracket Challenge, and sports trivia contests. The club has visited local sports talk radio stations as well as professional teams’ facilities.

 

Stock Market Club

Stock Market Club

Students learn the ins and outs of the stock market and buy and sell stocks through a fun, interactive stock market game.

 

Student Association (SA)

Student Association (SA)

All students have an active voice in what happens at Barrack through their Student Association (SA) representatives, who meet regularly with our Head of School and other school directors to discuss policies and concerns affecting campus life. All organizations and clubs operate under the umbrella of the SA and an academic department or division. SA elected officers, whose one-year terms start and end in March, also serve on our Board of Directors and Athletic Committee.

Read more about student leadership development here

 

Super 8 Club

Super 8 Club

This club is dedicated to video and movie production. Students have the opportunity to meet with professionals in the film industry, discuss movies, and make movies of their own. In the past, this club has held movie discussions with Hollywood editor Fred Raskin, met with filmmaker Alison Klayman, and met Jeremy Zagar, director of the film Hustle with Adam Sander.

 

TEAM+S

TEAM+S

Every year, Barrack juniors and seniors in the STEAM Institute participate in Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science (TEAM+S), an annual competition designed to help students discover their potential for engineering.

During this day-long competition, students apply math and science knowledge in practical, creative ways to solve real-world engineering challenges. Barrack students placed first in the regional competition this year as well as last year and this year both the 9th/10th and 11th/12th teams placed in the top five nationally.

Learn more about the STEAM Institute here

 

Topics in Ethics

Topics in Ethics

This civil debate club allows students to discuss modern and intriguing ethical dilemmas in an open, free-form setting. For each meeting, club leaders select a controversial modern-day ethics-related topic to discuss.

 

Torah Lishmah (Tanakh Club)

Torah Lishmah (Tanakh Club)

This club creates a space for students of all grades to study Tanakh together. Entirely student-run and student-led, club members choose which topics and books they would like to focus on. Students talk with each other in open discussions that are mindful of the text and respectful of each member’s thoughts.

 

Ultimate Frisbee Club

Ultimate Frisbee Club

Ultimate Frisbee is one of the fastest moving laid-back games around. Serving as their own referees, seven players on each team score goals by throwing a Frisbee down the field from teammate to teammate. New players are welcome.

 

Wellness Club

Wellness Club

Wellness Club is a place for students to relax, de-stress, and feel as if they’re not alone in whatever issues they’re dealing with. It’s a safe space for students to hang out and talk—or not talk, depending on what they’re comfortable with. Club members have judgment-free conversations, give each other advice, enjoy stress-relieving craft making, and are there for one another. They also organize sales to support mental health organizations and raise awareness of mental health concerns.

 

Widener Memorial Club

Widener Memorial Club

This service club connects Barrack students with Widener Memorial School in Philadelphia. Club members visit Widener once a month where they prepare and teach lessons or work with teachers to help students.

 

Women's Empowerment

Women's Empowerment

This club offers a place for young women at Barrack to encourage one another to achieve their dreams.

 

Word Games Club

Word Games Club

Through this club, students are introduced to various word games to help them develop skills and master new challenges.

 

World Affairs Council

World Affairs Council

Each year, Barrack’s World Affairs Club participates in an international student summit run by the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia at the Fox Business School facility at Temple University.

The summits present opportunities for students to learn about the socioeconomic and political issues that face specific countries as they develop an understanding of international affairs. Summit topics have included the crisis in the Horn of Africa, cyberwarfare in the South China Sea, and NATO’s response to Russian expansionism. Students have an opportunity to interact with both experts and their peers as they develop leadership skills and gain global awareness. Student delegates and leaders have been recognized for excellence by the Philadelphia World Affairs Council, and some of our students have been inspired to study and contribute in the field of international relations.

Writing Center

Writing Center

Our Writing Center is a free tutoring service staffed daily by an English teacher and several trained student tutors. It is open to students in any grade for any type of writing assignment.